IRISH ELECTIONS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11827, 7 January 1933, Page 5

IRISH ELECTIONS

ARMED GUARDS.

MACHINE GUN CREWS,

DE VALERA AND EX-MINISTERS.

COMMUNISTS ACTIVE

(U.l’.A. by Elec;. Tel. Copyright.' (Received Jan, 6, 7.40 p.m.) DUBLIN, Jan. G.

Mr. Do Valera is guarded by detectives during a tour of the constituencies and ho is also accompanied. by a motorvan equipped with loud speakers. Mr. Cosgrave and the other exMinisters will be guarded by plainclothes soldiers. Each will he escorted by a car possessing machine gun crews who are instructed, in event of disturbances, to act according to the military regulations, if the safety of the ex-Ministors is endangered. The Communist groups, taking advantage of the disturbed state of politics, are endeavouring to arouse a revolutionary spirit. Communist candidates propose to contest the Dublin, Kilkenny, Cork and Tipperary seats.

DE VALERA OPENS CAMPAIGN

“OATH BILL WILL BE LAW.’

GLOWING PICTURES DRAWN

v 17. P. A . by Elec. To). Copvrij/hU (Received Jan. 6, 8 p.m.) DUBLIN - , Jan. 6.

Speaking at the foot of the Parnell Statue, looking down O’Connell Street, where the 1 DIG revolution began, Mr. Do Valera, opened his campaign before 20,000 listeners, mostly young people, who packed the thoroughfare, cheering wildly. Mr de Valera, did not refer to the Fianna Fail’s attitude regarding membership of the Empire, hut said: “With our return, the Oath Bill will become law, despite the Senate. With the disappearance of the oath, domestic peace and a reunion of the national forces will ho certain. Farmers arc better off, despite the economic war, than during the previous regime and the prospects arc immeasurably' brighter. . Three hundred new industries have been established and protection has come to stay, but the progress must be accelerated.”

The Government; had laid the foundations of a well-balanced economic system, stated Mr. De Valera. Building thereon would he easier after the election and lie promised increased unemployment relief. The election was being held in times of great tension, consequently there was danger of a breach of the peace, hut the Government would do iis best in maintain order. HOPES AT'TFfE BALLOT BOX WILL GOVERNMENT WIN OR LOSE SEATS' (IFF.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Jan. 7, 1 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. C. The Manchester Guardian’s correspondent says:— ‘‘lt is generally considered that Mr De Valera cannot hope to gain more than three or four seats. It is more likely that he and Official Labor will Jose six seats, as thousands who voted for him last election paid heavily for their rashness and are anxious to repent. Most of thp small farmers publicly profess that they will stick to Mr De "Valera despite their sufferings, but it is regarded as possible that many may ignore their public prolessions in the secrecy ol the ballot. The shortness of the campaign favors Mr Cosgrave, as it has enabled him to drive home his attack on Mr De Valera’s record.” SUGGESTION OF REPUBLIC. FREE STATE RESIDENT’S OPINION. Before very long the Irish tree State may turn into a republic, according to Mr. Montagu Stopford, of County Kilkenny, who arrived in Wellington from England on Thursday. -Mix Stopford is a nephew of the Earl of Court own, and owns land a few miles from the town of Kilkenny itself. He has lived in Ireland, “on and off,’’ all his life, and he thinks that the people want a republic. He himself, he told “The Dominion,” was very happy in Kilkenny, hut the English tariff of 20 per cent, had hit the. cattle trade. “EVERYBODY HAPPY.” “The political situation is quite according to expectations,” said Mr. Stopford.* “It has been coming for the last six months, and although ii may seem a strange thing to say, wo are going to have a republic! That is what the people want and that- is what Mr. de Valera wants. For myself, 1 believe tlit Air. de Valera is going to get in again by a large majority. That is just my opinion. Others may think differently, and of course it’s a ’very difficult thing to understand the Irish. At all events I don’t think a republic would make very much difference. Wo should carry on exactly as we are now. The Irish are very changeable, and although they want a icpublic now, they may want a kingdom to-morrow and something -I*'! the day after.

“It’ s very difficult, as I say, to understand the Irish.” Mr. Stopford repeated. 1 { Evgu 1 wlio am living there don’t understand them. Buc everything is very pleasant >ml wr. aro living there very happily. Everybody is happy—we don’t want money now. Tf you are a country person and have four or five chickens you can exchange them for a pound of butter or something else. It’s bartering that we’re getting down to now. “As for the people,” lie said, ‘they don’t pare two hoots about England! But I think they like /Mr do Valera. They father Took on him

as a saint. Mr. Cosgrave, on the other hand, is a very sound business man. But the people don’t understand him, except in Dublin and Cork. Of course those who have a stake in the country and have money to lose pay more attention to Mr. Cosgrave. But on the whole there are not many of then!. Mr. Cosgrave, I: think, is very sound in some Ways, and so for that matter is Mr. de Valera. C A THO LIG-PRO TESTA NT GOODWILL. “Religion doesn’t come into it al all yoii can he sure of that,” said Mr Stopford. £i l am a Protestant, and I am living in a country which is probably 80 per cent. Catholic. It s absurd to say that the Catholics and Protestants are at* daggers drawn. The Catholics and-Protestants are very happy. I got very annoyed when people say that t-ho Catholics treat the Protestants •in the south badly. We are great friends.” k